Primary care healthcare policy impelmentation in the eastern Mediterranean region; experience of six countries: part ii

Background: Primary healthcare (PHC) is the cornerstone of health systems for the rightful access and cost-effective. It is a key factor in the global strategy for universal health coverage (UHC). Implementing PHC requires an understanding of health system under prevailing circumstances essential to implement PHC, but data are unavailable. Objectives: This paper describes and analyses the health systems of Algeria, Kuwait, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Iraq and PHC status. Methods: Data were collected during a Workshop at 2018 WONCA East Mediterranean Regional Conference in Kuwait. Academic family physicians (FP) and general practitioners (GP) presented their country reports using the WONCA framework of 11 PowerPoint slides. WHO EMRO reflected on how countries’ experiences can contribute to their Frameworks on Integrated People-Centered Health Services and UHC.. Results: The six countries had achieved a great improvement in populations’ health, but currently face challenges of health financing, small number of certified family physicians, difficulties to access service and bureaucratic process. Main concerns were the absence of a family practice model, brain drain and immigration of FPs. Countries differed in building a coherent policy. Conclusion: Priorities should be focused on: developing PHC model in Eastern Mediterranean Region with advocacy for community-based PHC to policymakers: capacity building for strengthening PHC-oriented health systems with FP specialty training and restrict practicing to fully trained FPs; engage communities to improve understanding of PHC; adopt quality and accreditation policies for better services; validation of the referral and follow-up process; and, develop public-private partnership mechanisms to enhance PHC for UHC